2. Juliette
CHAPTER TWO
juliette
The growl working its way up my throat is not at all ladylike, but my patience is hanging on by a very thin thread.
Tamping down my frustration, I pray for wisdom…
and a margarita. I’ll deserve the latter if I can manage to convince this woman of the way of things because, while I love her to pieces, she also knows how to push every damn button I have.
“Gran, you know that Pack Latham is already courtin’ me.
The ‘arranged marriage’ you and Hudson agreed to when I was barely outta diapers just isn’t gonna happen.
Kash despises me, and I find his ego wholly unattractive.
I can’t be with a man whose head is so big he probably has to order custom hats to fit it. ”
Grandma Rose tsks, pulling the sugar canister across the tray to sweeten her tea.
Her frown speaks volumes. “Pack Latham? They’re damn near three decades older than you!
How are men their ages going to keep up with a young, hot Omega?
You’re only twenty-eight. They’ll probably die of heart attacks during your first heat. ”
I don’t even bat an eye at her outrageousness anymore. I accepted it long ago. Between being Daddy’s proper princess and Mama supporting Daddy by dolling me up, at least Gran never tries to force me to be anyone but who I am.
“They’re a wealthy, established pack who could give Charlotte and me everything we’ve ever dreamed of. Don’t we deserve that?”
“What you deserve is a pack of Alphas who can give you another child, not one where you’re young enough to be theirs . Besides, we have more than enough money to give you both the world, so don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes with that pile of hog shit.”
My sigh comes from the deepest depths of my soul.
“Look, it’s not about sex for me, or even the money.
It’s about security and stability and finally givin’ Charlotte a positive male figure to look up to because Lord knows Daddy doesn’t always fit the bill.
I’m… Well… I’m exhausted from years of doin’ it on my own.
I could use the extra hands, especially as my rodeo career gains traction again. ”
“And how do those old buzzards feel about you joining the circuit again? That means you’ll be traveling more.”
Clearing my throat, I swallow down the nerves threatening to choke me. Liam and Mark have both expressed their concerns about the resurgence of my career, and Alex has been trying to convince me to become a stay-at-home mom. But she doesn’t need to know that.
“They’ll support me. I’m sure of it.”
Her perfect silver eyebrows raise haughtily. “You sound as sure as a fool bettin’ his life’s savings on the lotto.”
The doorbell rings, and I say a silent thank you to the powers that be for the brief intermission.
“I’ll get it.”
Standing, I stride to the front door with a little more aggression in my step than is prudent. Whipping the door open, I’m met with a wall of Amazon boxes so tall I can’t see past them. I blow out an amused breath.
“Hey, Gran?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Ollie ordered from Amazon again.”
“That damned bird!” she mutters.
The parrot in question toddles in, his little feet lightly clicking against the wood floor while his head tilts.
“Ollie? What did you order?” I ask.
“I love you. Chirp .”
“I love you too, but you’re gonna lose your Alexa privileges if you keep this up.”
He sways happily. “Alexa… chirp. Play… ‘Thunder Rolls.’”
“Here’s ‘The Thunder Rolls’ by Garth Brooks on Amazon Music.”
“Oh for the love of Pete!” Gran exclaims. “Someone unplug that dreaded device.”
“Alexa… chirp . Volume six,” the parrot demands.
I can’t hold it in any longer. My laughter explodes out of me as the opening chords of the song blare through the sitting room. Heading for the little electronic device in the corner, Ollie follows behind me, flapping his wings and dancing to the beat.
“Gran, Ollie is a menace.”
“I love you,” the bird in question repeats, and I lose it all over again.
“He is, but that’s why I adore him. Reminds me of your grandpa when he was young—always keeping me on my toes. He always wanted a parrot, and I like to think he and Ollie would’ve had a hoot together.”
“I miss him,” I say softly, unplugging the device and heading back over to the sofa. “I can’t believe it’s been twenty years without him.
Her hand reaches out, lightly patting my knee. “I know, dear, but I can guarantee you that he’s watching over all of us from wherever he ended up. He may have been an angel to those who knew him, but that man had a filthy side that would make a prostitute blush.”
Having just taken a sip of my tea, I promptly choke on it. “Gran!”
“What? You’re no shy virgin. Charlotte’s proof of that. Which is why I keep insisting on this agreement we had with the Fords. You need strong, virile men to not only keep you safe, but also satisfied .”
I groan, covering my face. “Oh my god, I can’t have this conversation with you.”
“All I ask is that you agree to come to dinner. If you sit through an entire meal with Kash and still feel it isn’t in the cards, then I’ll let it go and you can go marry that pack that’s halfway to the grave.”
“You know Daddy gave them a glowing recommendation, right?”
She rolls her amber brown eyes. “Of course he did. The last thing Mason wants is for you to marry his enemy’s son.
He’d rather die than be forced to associate with Jack or his family.
So what did he do? Pressured you into a courtship with a pack that’s so old he doesn’t have to think about his daughter getting railed and with child again. ”
“Good fucking grief.”
“Such language, dear.”
“Really? You sit there cool as a cucumber, talking about me getting railed , yet the word fucking is off limits?”
She waves her graceful hand through the air. “Just promise me you’ll be here promptly at six o’clock for dinner in your prettiest dress?”
I sigh. What choice do I have? I owe this woman everything.
In a family full of dysfunction, she’s been my rock.
My safe place. She’s the reason I got my life back on track—with an assist from my new friends Elliott and Ezlynn—and am here today with my little girl and my career intact.
The least I can do is eat a meal with the man I despise to appease her.
“Fine. I’ll be here. But remember, after this, you’ll let me finalize this thing with Pack Latham. No more shenanigans.”
She rolls her eyes. “Sure, sure. Whatever.”
And that was about as good of a promise as I was going to get. If I’m stubborn, this woman takes relentless to another level.
Shooting off a quick text to the group chat, the last time I saw Kash plays through my mind.
It was my sixteenth birthday. My family threw a big party and, of course, Kash and his grandfather, Hudson, were invited since the younger Ford always spent those long, warm summer months with his grandpa, fishing and working around the estate.
My mind cuts back to the moment that cemented our continuation of the feud our fathers started decades ago.
Twelve Years Ago
People mingle throughout the large main house decorated in pinks and golds, with balloons and streamers hung from the rafters.
Soft music plays in the background, and I take a deep breath as I slip out the French doors in the office to the darkened, private patio.
I can hear the music filtering all the way over here from the main outdoor space around the corner where more party-goers are enjoying the beautiful evening.
In the distance, I can see the stables and the pond, the rest of the grounds, and even see a couple of horses in the far pasture.
I’d give anything to be out there with them right now.
I need a breather—both figuratively and literally.
With my designation coming in, my sense of smell is extra sensitive, right along with my skin.
The pink, puffy, glittery ball gown that reminds me of cotton candy is giving me hives, and it’s taking every ounce of willpower I have not to scratch my skin off.
I detest dressing like a pageant princess, but it makes my mama happy, so I always go along with it.
I look like the perfect plastic Barbie doll, with my long blonde hair twisted up in a high bun on my head and my makeup so thick I swear I’m going to be clearing up a breakout for the next two weeks.
But seeing my mama’s eyes sparkle with unshed tears when she saw me?
Worth it. The etiquette classes my daddy insisted on during the two weeks leading up to this event?
Definitely not. I swear, it feels like I’m being judged and scrutinized every time I open my mouth or make the smallest gesture.
It’s been like this for years. Being dressed up like a doll and forced to act like a proper young lady, all while hiding the lonely tomboy within.
It’s been years since I was allowed to go fishing or horseback riding with Hudson and Kash.
Instead, my summers have been taken over by elegant gatherings with Darling’s high society, which have been significantly less entertaining and full of niceties I barely have the tolerance for.
Every time I’ve tried to sneak off, I’m ambushed by my daddy, who carts me right back into the middle of Hell.
I’m a prisoner here. Can’t abscond through my bedroom window because he installed a high-tech lock that I’m terrified will wake up all of Darling if I so much as try to pick it.
A part of me misses those old days. Everything was… simpler then. Back before Kash and I even knew we were supposed to hate each other simply because our fathers did.